Thomas porcelain: Older series

The 1950s marked the beginnings of Thomas porcelain as a standalone brand. Rosenthal took over Thomas Porcelain complete with all the older series and expanded the brand to create a young, design-oriented and straightforward dinnerware series for everyday use that combined quality and functionality.

Typical mid-century features of the older Thomas series of the 1950s were clean lines, simple shapes and functional designs. One eye-catching highlight is their understated coffee sets, characterised by their restrained porcelain elegance. Anyone who owns one of these sets today not only holds a piece of history in hand, but also a sought-after collector’s set.

The recent revival of mid-century interior design themes has made the older Thomas series of the 1950s with their straight-line designs and typical décors particularly desirable among trendsetters.

The 1970s were a time of retro chic and innovative materials. The older series of the 1970s were characterised by simple, organic shapes and soft colours that perfectly captured the zeitgeist of the time. At the same time, older Thomas series of the late 1970s – for example, the Scandic Shadow dinnerware series by Thomas – illustrated the influence of Scandinavian design, a recurring theme for Thomas' dinnerware styles well into the 1980s.

Many of the older Thomas collections have more than a sentimental value. They are sought-after by collectors, as they are no longer in production and are therefore harder to come by. Particularly rare items from the 1950s to 1990s command high prices at auctions and in collector communities. The value depends on the condition of the item, its availability and, of course, demand. Series like Thomas Bavaria or Thomas Scandic are in particularly high demand and symbolise the best of porcelain craftsmanship as well as the rich company history of the brand.

Thomas Bavaria in particular is an older series in high demand among collectors, as this dinnerware series was manufactured in Marktredwitz, Bavaria – back when Fritz Thomas founded the company in 1903. The Thomas brand quickly became known for its premium-quality porcelain products. Later, when it became part of the Rosenthal Group, a global leader in porcelain manufacture, the Thomas brand reclaimed its high standing.